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100,000 rocked out of the MCG last week after a great game of AFL. I saw a scramble for the ball, a fight, all through the last quarter, as the ball shape contributed to the grappling and rough and tumble that so many love.
Skill levels, though, were reduced below the physical elements of the game.
Geelong had their celebrations and the memories remain. And we had the losing St Kilda coach urging his players to back up and go one better next year.
Nice. Now what?
The AFL will continue to expand to the Gold Coast, to Western Sydney and then where? Then what. Dead stop?
The AFL can grow the game quicker than they could imagine if they did just one thing, but the fans will need to take a deep breadth, for a moment.
Change the ball to a roundball.
The opportunities for clubs, the opportunities for imports and the opportunity to really grow the game would appear instantly.
Instead of going to a beach in Bali or wherever, Geelong could head to Ireland to play the Gaelic Champs, Kerry, next week. 80,000 guaranteed in Croke Park.
And, of course, yer man Kerneally thrown in for good measure. More still for the return at the G.
Geelong fans could even stop celebrating and get a passport!
And if the ball was round, the overhead kicks, the bending shots, the increased skills, could all add further to the appeal of the game outside these shores.
And every boy and girl in the world could now play the game. Every boy and girl in the world could practice with the ball they buy from their local shop, and transfer their football skills to AFL in a moment.
You’re never going to find a Sherrin in China, India, or the USA are you? Because as every teacher knows, no young child wants to look stupid.
And at an early age, that’s what the AFL ball does to you. And if the culture isn’t AFL, few will persevere.
Only an Aussie can teach a kid located in another country how to play. And there aren’t enough Aussies out there.
But if the ball was round …
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